Dental instrument assembly



Oct. 15, 1957 A. R. cERvERls DENTAL INSTRUMENT ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 2l, 1956 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Oct. 15, 1957 A. R. cERvERls 2,809,429

DENTAL INSTRUMENT ASSEMBLY Filed May 2l. 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WA 76W A IR y .55% AcRRf/vr Y INVENTOR A bert j?. Carpe/s ATTORNEYY United States Patent DENTAL INSTRUMENT ASSEMBLY Albert R. Cerveris, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application May 21, 1956, Serial No. 586,124

6 Claims. (Cl. 32-33) My invention is directedv to improvements in a gas and liquid dispensing dental instrument with associated mirror and. tongue depressor for use in the oral cavity.

With the continued increase in perfection and use of high speed dental drillsthere is need for improved and adequate` liquid and gas dispensers to wash, cool, and dry at and proximal to the point of operation. Adequate means are available to evacuate the liquid Wash and coolant but an improved instrument is needed for use by the dentist in his left hand while he uses the usual hand-piece in his right hand. An instrument according; to. my invention serves to ll this need for a means to apply Washv and cooling liquid and drying and. motivating compressed gas.- at the point required and in the manner and at the time. desired, all of which is directly under control of the dentist. Such an instrument that will adequatelyy ldispense gas and-liquid and has the approximate bulk of the usual dental mirror and provides for the uses. afforded by such mirror is provided in the instrument according to my invention.

It is an object of the invention to provide a dental instrument adapted to be used bythe Vdentist in his left hand for application in the oral. cavity. and that has the approximate bulk of a dental mirror yet provides for controlled application of cooling and washing liquid and gas. in a iield of operation without any interference with the operation and at, the same time permits use of a dental mirror that may be associated therewith without its becoming fogged or splashed.

Another object of my invention. is to provide a dental instrument of the approximate size of a dental mirror which permits application of liquid and gas at a selected el-d of operation and; at the same time permits of the cooperating use oi a dental mirror or tongue depressor yet is easily fabricated. at loW cost so that a number may, be employed by' the dentist and at the same time each such instrument is easily detached from its associated connections for sterilization.

A` further obect of my invention is to. provide; in a y dental instrument for `dispensirrrg gas and liquid, a swivelly mounted dispensing nozzle which, permits the. control offthe, direction of application. of such fluid ina dental operation-at a desiredY point or field without causing. any splashing..

Another object of my invention is. to provide a dental. instrument for applying fluid at a desired. point so that, the iiuid in caseit is, ailiquicl` may: be applied to the adjalnt tOOth o r mouth portion such that it flows by capillary actionand performs a cooling and washing function.

A further object of my invention is toy provide a. dental instrument with, a dispensing head for applying iiuid and. which may carryv a, replaceablel tongue dispenser or an easily replaceabledental-mirrorand wherein; the head, mirror or tongue-depressor arevreadily adjusted for the etcent; use. in, Carmina out: a dental' Operation..

A still furthery object of my invention is to provide.

2,809,429 Patented Oct. 15, 1957 a dental instrument for useV by the dentist in his left hand which will apply selectively wash and: cooling liquid orv compressed air in a controlled manner to so assist in a vdental operation that the operating time is reduced a marked amount and the patient is at the same time afforded more comfort.

Still further objects and the entire scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter.- It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples are given by way' of illustration only and, while indicating preferredY embodiments of the invention, are not given by way of limitation, since various changes and modications within the spirit and scope of. the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of my invention reference may be had to the drawings in which:

Fig. lV is a top plan view of thedental instrument assembly;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the instrument in Fig. 1 with mirror removed and on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3v is a slightly enlarged cross sectional view along line 3 3 of Fig.. l;

Fig. 4: is an enlarged cross sectional view of. the head of the instrument along lineV 4-4 of Fig. 1;V

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view along line 5-5 ofFig. 4;

Fig. 6. is a fragmentary cross sectional view showing aV socket mounting for a mirror or atongue depressor along line 6 6 of Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the exchange chamber of the instrument along line 7 7 of Fig. l;

Fig. 8- isa view of a mirror adapted to-be removably attached to the instrument;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a tongue depressor adapted toV be replaceably attached to the instrument;

Fig. l0 is a perspective view of' the instrumentV with mirror attached in use on an upper toothV to apply liquid;

Fig. 1l is a perspective view showing the use of the instrument with tongue depressorV in use i'n applying air under pressure in a tooth-illing operation to prevent seepage under a matrix band;

Fig. l2 is a schematic partial View of the gas and liquid lines leading to the instrument;` and Fig. 13 is a schematic view of solenoid actuated valves in the gas and liquidl lines leading to. the instrument.

Throughout the description like reference numerals refer to similar parts.

The dental instrument according to myV-invention is generally. indicated at 10 and comprises in general they handpiece 11 detachably connected to the exchange chamber 12V atone end and having a dispensing tube leading therethrough` and out the other end asY at- 13 having attached toits outer end a dispensing headl 14 for gas and liquid.

This instrument 10 has the general shape and bulk of the normal dental mirror whichl is customarily manipulated bythe dentist in his left hand when operating. The, usual dental mirror is used as a depressor and retractor along with its main use as a mirror when operating on the upper teeth in the oral cavity. I have made available in my dental instrument an instrument of about the bulk ofA the usual dental mirror with its handle and provided therein a dispensing means for compressed air and coolant liquid which may be readily used by the dentist Without impairing his use of his left hand to hold at the same time. a mirror or a tongue depressor or the like. Thus, the, dentist is ableto accomplish dental operations in a moreI expeditious manner and with more comfort to the Vindicated at A in Fig. 3.

3 patient. Two uses are illustrated in Figures 10 and ll for the instrument as examples of some of its many uses and its facility of usage.

In designing and clinically using this instrument, it has been the primary objective of the development to have a light-weight instrument which may be easily sterilized, is not bulky and yet provides for application of either compressed gas or coolant liquid along with the use of a mirror or a tongue depressor. Applicant is aware of prior devices for carryingy out some of these features but not with the facility and with the control of applying the cooling iiuid at the point or field desired and at the same time not splashing the mirror or causing it to fog. The dispensing head 14 Vand its nozzle 15 may be readily adjusted to any particular attitude with reference to the haud-piecell and the mirror 16 or the tongue depressor 17 when either is in place.

The dispensing tube 13 has an upper threaded end 13 and receives thereover the tubular hand-piece 11 having apertured end pieces 11 and 11" which receive the tube 13 in sliding engagement. Dispensing tube 13 is about inches in length while the overall length of the instrument is about 61/2 inches which is the overall length of the usual dental mirror. Spaced in from the lower end of the tube 13, namely, the head end thereoffthere is attached in fixed engagement with the tube 13 a conicallike shaped stop 18 against which the hand-piece tube 11 rests. This stop piece 18 is knurled as at 1S', see Fig. 1,

where it engages with the closed-off end 11 of hand-piece 11. The other end 11" of the hand-piece 11 is slightly recessed to receive a knurled nut 19 having an inwardly Vtapered outer surface to be received within the end of tubular hand-piece 11 adjacent the inset closed end 11" so as to be tightened thereagainst and to set the handpieceY tube 11 against the knurled stop 13so as to hold fit firmly in any selected position of the dispensing tube 13 therein. This is important when it is necessary t0 orient the hand-piece 11 to position the mirror and tongue depressor carrying sockets 55 and 56 with respect to n the head 14 of tube 13.

The dispensing head 14 is arranged in lixed engagement on the end of tube 13 at an angle of about 165 as It has been found that this angular attitude of the head which has a swivel Vconnection as will be described serves admirably in all positions of desired use. The head 14 comprises a base portion 20of cylindrical shape which is apertured at 21 to receive the end of tube 13 which provides a connection with an annular passageway 22 formed in the base 20 from its inner face 20.

An annular boss 23 is formed by the annular passageway 22 and it has a cutaway shoulder 23',

. see Fig. 4, and an annular semi-circular recess 24 formed in the annular face 20' to receive an O-ring packing. As an alternative construction, this O-ring packing may be formed of the metal or it may be a protruding semicircular portion of the base 20. The boss 23 has a central recess which is threaded as at 23 to receive a cap screw as will be described. To complete the swivel head f 14 there isa cooperating cap 25 of like shape to the base 20 and having an annular recess 26 cooperating with the recess 22. A central boss 27 is formed by the annular recess 26 and it has a shoulder portion 27' thereon c0- operating with the shoulder 23 and apertured at 28 to receive a securing cap screw 28 which is received within a recess Z9 formed in the cap 25. In the wall of the cap 25 there is an aperture 3) extending therethrough which connects with the nozzle 15 which is set into the cap 25 L in the recess 25" so that it projects out in a radial manner such as shown in Fig. 1. Y y semi-circular cooperating recess 25' in the face thereof to receive the O-ring 24.

The cap 25 is formed with a In this construction of the head 14 it will be noted that the cap 25 carrying the radially projecting nozzle 15 may swivel through 360 degrees and in any set position willY dispense fluid through the nozzle 15 as will hereinafterr bedescribed. So also in the mount- 5 member 13 may be rotated to move the head 14 by means of its threaded end 13. The hand-piece 11 and the tube 13 form a unit and are received in the threaded end of the exchange chamber 12.

The exchange chamber 12 serves the purpose of conducting gas or a liquid to the tube 13 leading to head 14.

This exchange chamber 12 is formed with an outer cylindrical sleeve 31 which receives therein a core member 32 having a hollow passageway 32 extending longitudinally therein and connecting with a threaded aperture 33 in the end cap 34 thereof. The aperture 33 receives the threaded end 13 of the tube 13 n tight-fitting engagement so that no leaks occur. Passageway 32' extending longitudinally of the core member 32 is undercut a slight amount so that its bore is of about the same diameter as the internal diameter of the tubular member 13 perrmitting smooth ow of the fluid into the tube 13. Core member 32 is formed with radial apertures 35 which connect with an annular recess 36 formed about the circumference thereof. The core member 32 has a plurality of 'spaced-apart circumferential recesses 37 formed therein to receive packing 38 therein of composition material. The opposite end member to the head 34 of the core member 32 is formed with a shoulder 39 and it has a central recess aperture 40 formed therein which is 3() threaded. Received over the shoulder portion 39 is the end washer 41 and against this there bears the cap screw 42 which is received in the threaded recess 40. Between the head 34 and the outer cylindrical portion 31 there is a fiber Washer 43 which forms a seal at that end. It will be noted that the outer portion of the cap 34 as shown in Fig. 1 is knurled so that the core member 32 may be rotated Within the sleeve 31. It will be noted that the outer tubular portion or sleeve 31 is so mounted that it may be rotated on the central core 32 and still fluid will pass through the radial apertures 35 on into the central core 32 from the circumferential passageway 36. Connecting with .the passageway 36 and the outer sleeve 31 whichV is provided with suitable apertures are tubular members 44 and 45. Each of these tubular members 44 45 and 45 extends in bifurcated arrangement transverse and -outward from the exchange chamber 12 as shown in VFig. 7. These tubular members 44 and 45 diverge outward at their outer ends Where they are attached to a 'cylindrical fitting generally indicated at 46 comprising a cylindrical cup-shaped end 47 having fixed therein as by soldering a core 48 provided with longitudinal spaced- Aapart apertures 48 extending therethrough and a central aperture 49 while the outer end of the core 48 extends out beyond the cap 47 and is threaded to receive a similar cap 50 having a threaded inner portion 50' which abuts against a Washer 51 placed over the core 48 and received between the adjacent ends of the members 47 and 50 to form a seal. Received within the central bore 49 of the core 48 is a valve stem 51 of the valve generally indicated at 51 and having a conical head-51" and a guide 51a. The head 51" is received within an aperturedV and conical recess 52' formed in a valve seat 52 seated in the bottom end of the cap member 50. The bottom end of the cap member 50 is connected by a tube 53 having an inturned end 53' which receives a flexible hose connection 54 that may be attached to the air supply or the liquid supply as desired. A similar member to 46 is indicated at 46' and it serves the same purpose as the member 46, namely, as a check valve to prevent reverse How of uid in the lines 54-54. The arrow shown in Fig. 7 in each of these lines is the normal direction of ow of the fluid in each of the lines through the check valves 46'. Thus, it will be observed in the cutaway portion in Fig. 7 of the check valve 46 that any reverse flow will act against the planar face of the valve member 'tionf away from the mirror.

sonntag 51" to: seat it in its' valve seat 52; Any: flow.L of uid through` the line 541 in. the directionY of the: arrow therein unseats they valvemembex,` 51" and allows uid` to oW thereby and throughthe passagewaysASf on intothe tube 4st and thence within the exchange chamber 12 to dispensing tubel.

In Figures I and 6.it will be observed: that the-handpiece 11 has. attached thereto elongated pocketsy 55. and 56.which have a` taperedrecess therein astindicatedr at 55' toreceive theshanlc 16 or 17 respectively on the mirror adapter 16a ortongue depressor 17T. The Shanks 16 and- 17.1"are heldin by frictioniit. andthe mirror or tongue depressor may be easily oriented into any position desired.

Referring toFigs. l2 and'` 13.itbe observed that in Fig. 12' the exible lines 54' and= 54' have foot-operated valvesV 57 and 57' therein whichV have foot actuators as indicated at 57a andv 57a. In Fig.l 13 the flexible lines '4' and154. in place of 'having foot valve actuators connected direct in the lines, the lines areconnectedthrough solenoid operated valves 58 and 58.' mounted on the dental. engine and having electricalfleadstotheir respective solenoids leading: down to foot actuator switches 58a and 58a which are within easy reach of the dentists foot. rlhe normal switch control for the dental engine i'slocated onfthe floor adjacent the valve actuator switches orvalve actuators. j

In Fig. 1'0, the mirror 16 is positioned in one of the pockets 551 or 56lof`the hand-piece and it projects in suspended relation alongside of the tube 13 and the head 14 in an adjusted position to permit of' operationY on the tooth in the upper arch in the mouth= of a patient. The nozzle 15 is positioned closely adjacentthe tooth under operation and pointedV so as to project coolant against the tooth sothat it runs down the side of the tooth and the adjacent'roofof the mouth by capillary action in a direc- The mirror isnot splashed or fogged and an uninterrupted operation onthe tooth may be performed. Such operation may involve the cutting ofa tooth for a filling or otherwise and the coolant isneeded to eliminate the` heat caused by the high speed Cutting. Withoutremoving either instrument from the mouth ofthepatient, the dentist can wash the. field of operation and dry same by merely using h isv foot control ofit-he air and water as supplied tothedispensing head 14.

In Fig. l1 there is illustrated the use of the tongue depressor 17 to hold the tongue away from. the operating eld and the use, of theA head 14 so arranged with the nozzle 15 that air is projected continuously through the interproximal space 1P to blow away any moisture-.before it seeps in under the matrix band MB positioned around tooth T to receive a filling in cavity F. This is only partially illustrative of the ability of this instrument to reach into the eld of operation for either delivering water for wash or cooling purposes free of air for drying purposes. In clinical practice the delivery of compressed air through a dispensing instrument maintained in the left hand, has simplied many operations.

In scaling operations, under the gum line, a blast of air of suicient pressure to reflect the free gum line, gives a clear, dry field. Blood and saliva which normally tend to seep into the area are kept back by the constant air flow. This is effective only because the dispensing instrument according to my invention permits the nozzle tip to reach down into the free gum area.

Further use of a dried iield for which my dispensing instrument is extremely well adapted to serve is in the placing of the amalgam and silicate restorations. In such placing it is extremely important that the cavity surfaces are dry and it is especially diicult to maintain a dry eld in the lower arch of the mouth, but with this instrument such a dry field may be maintained. When placing restoration below the gum line where blood and saliva seepage presents problems, a continuous air ow will per- 6 mit: ther packing.- of the restoration in. a` moisture-free atnrosphereV by the use-of this dispensing. instrument;

This dispensing. instrument.: is especially usefull in furnishing at the point ofoperation a continuous airV blast during thepolishing of finished' restorations. As sandpaper-discs, steel inishing. burrsandother polishingagents work. best ina dry held, the constant flow-off air directed at the, proper eldi blows away any; shavings orsaliva that might, tendv'to retardthe polishing-` operation.

My dispensing instrument is well adapted to dispense air. which has a` cooling effect in metal restorationslwhich absorband re'ect an uncomfortable amount ofheat from the friction of polishing agents. It isv noted in clinical use that the-blast of airreadily applied under controlled conditions reduce the discomfortto the patient during suchv polishing operations.

Individual impressions of'teethlmay be cooled-by use of my. dispensing instrument as the cooling water maybe applied at the point and in the amount desiredg Heretofore, such` cooling has had to be accomplished` by' a handy syringe, but again, the quiet owA of water directed bymyA dispensing instrument against the point of-l operationsothat it flows by capillaryv action afford maximum cooling with no attendant detrimental splashing.

With the development of my dental instrument there is provided for the left hand1 a light-weight easily handled tool which may alternately function by foot controlled valves as a coolantdispenser forhigh-speed cuttingand as a` dry air dispenser for examination, scaling and filling teeth;

As a coolant dispenser, it willy deliver water close to the field of operation making use of capillary1 action to carrythe water overthe field'. This eliminates splash andl provides aquiet washing action in whichvisibility is not impaired. When used with the mirror attachment the mirror is not splashed or fogged. When used with the tongue depressor attachment, it providesfor protection of the tongue during high speed operations andit also may function as a cheek retractor if conditions demand.

The instrument, according to my invention, may beprovidedin quantities at low cost so that each dentist may be equipped with a number of such instruments. The instrument is easily sterilized by either boiling, autoclaving, or by immersion in cold sterilizing solutions. Through repeated clinical use this instrument has proved itself to be amost efficient instrumentsuperior to anything known to exist or disclosed in the prior art.

i claim as my invention:

l.. A dental instrument of the-class described comprising in combination an elongated dispensing tube having a lower and an upper end and a hand grasp outer portion thereon positioned toward the upper end, a dispensing head mounted on the lower end of said dispensing tube and having a portion thereof swivelly mounted on the balance of said head a dispensing nozzle on said swivelly mounted portion of the head and in dispensing communication therewith, an exchange chamber having a passageway therethrough rotatably mounted on the upper end of said dispensing tube and having its passageway in communication with the passageway in said dispensing tube whereby the dispensing tube may be rotated with respect to said exchange chamber to adjust the position of said dispensing head and the nozzle carried thereby, said exchange chamber having a gas and a liquid passageway connected with the passageway therein and leading to the outside of said exchange chamber and a conduit having a check valve assembly connected with each of said passageways on the outside of said exchange chamber, said conduit having a check valve assembly being adapted to be connected with gas and liquid supply lines leading to said instrument whereby fluid may be introduced into said exchange chamber and the dispensing tube without uid from one conduit feeding back into the other conduit past said check valve.

2. A dental instrument of the class described comprising in combination an elongated dispensing tube,.a tubu- .lar hand-piece mounted on the upper portion of said `dispensing tube, a dispensing head mounted on the lower end of said dispensing tube, said dispensing head having a portion thereof mounted thereon for swivel movement on the rest of said head, a dispensingV nozzle on said swivelly mounted portion of the head and in dispensing communication therewith, and an exchange chamber having a'passageway therein and being adapted to have gas and liquid supply lines attached thereto, said dispensing tube being connectedrat its upper endY to said exchange chamber'for rotaryrmovement with respect thereto and being in communication with the passageway therein.

3. A, dental instrument of the class described comprising in combination an elongated dispensing tube having a lower and an upper end and a hand grasp outer portion thereon positioned toward the upper end, a dispensing head mounted on the lowerY end of said dispensing tube and an exchange chamber having a'passageway therethrough and openings adapted to have gas and liquid sup- .plyV Ylines attached thereto, said dispensing tube being connected at its upper end to said exchange chamber for rotary movement with respect thereto and being in communication with the passageway therein, said dispensing head having a cylindrical base formed with an annular passageway therein cut into a face thereof and forming a central cylindrical boss, said base having a wall thereof A apertured to receive the lower end of said dispensing tube which communicates with said annular recess, said base being xed to said tubular member to form an obtuse angle therewith of approximately 165 degrees, a cap Vmember of like configuration to said base, means swivelly connecting said cap and base with their faces in abutting relationship, sealing means between s'aid cap and base to prevent leakage and a nozzle attached to said cap and extending radially therefrom and from said annular passage therein with which it is in communication.

4.Y A dental instrument of the class described comprising in combination an elongated dispensing tube having a lower and an upper end, a tubular hand grasp member received over the upper portion of said tubular member l permitting the upper end of the dispensing tube to project therefrom, securing means on said tube cooperating with said tubular handV grasp member to hold it in adjusted rotated position on said dispensing tube, said tubular hand grasp member having at least one pocket member attached thereto in approximate parallel relationship thereto at the lower end and being adapted to receive Y therein the shank of a detachable and adjustably position- 8 able dental mirror or tongue depressor, a dispensing head mounted on the lower end Ofsaid dispensing tube and having a portion thereof swivelly'mounted on the balance of said head, a -dispensing nozzle on said swivelly mounted portion of the Vhead Yand in dispensing communication therewith, and an exchange chamber having Ya passage-l way therethrough rotatably mounted on the upperend of said dispensing tube and having its passageway in communication with the passageway in said dispensing tube whereby the dispensing tube' and the hand grasp tubular member carried thereby may be 'rotated' with respect to said exchange chamber, said exchange chamber being adapted to have gas ,and liquid supply lines attached thereto. j

5. A dental instrument according to 4claim 4 wherein said exchange chamber, comprises a cylindrical outer member having a pair of openings through the wall therein adapted to be vconnected to conduit and check valve assemblies, a central core member received in said outer cylindrical member having a T-shaped head at one end with a threaded axial recess therein to receive the upper end of said dispensing tube, a threaded axial recess in the other end receiving a securing cap screw holding the core in the cylindrical'outer member, said core having an axial passageway therein in alignment and ,communication with said upper end of said dispensing tube received therein and radial ports intermediate the ends of said core communicating with an annular recess formed about the core member, and a conduit and check valve assembly connected with each of said openings in the wall of said cylindrical outer member.

6. A dental instrument according to claim 5 wherein said dispensing head comprises a cylindrical base formed with an annular passageway therein cut into a face thereof and forming a central cylindrical base, said base having a wall thereof apertured to receive the lower end of said dispensing tube which communicates with said annular recess, said base being fixed to said tubular memberY to form an obtuse angle therewith of approximately 165 degrecs, a cap member of like configuration to said base, means swivelly connecting said cap and base with their faces in abutting relationship, sealing means between said cap and base to prevent leakage and a nozzle attached to said cap and extending radially therefrom and from said annular passage therein with which it is in communication.

References Cited in the tile of thisY patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 851,483 Bartlett Apr. 23, 1907 

